Rajitha intends to build three hospitals similar to Mt. Elizabeth

Health and Nutrition Minister Rajitha Senaratne, in his first public address after recovery from a heart surgery at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, said yesterday he intended building three similar hospitals in Sri Lanka with financial backing from Russia, Austria and Germany.

Digital screen falls on girl at Yovun Pura

An injured girl was rushed to hospital when a digital screen erected at the Yovun Pura Exhibition at Sigiriya fell on her last afternoon.

Special Administrative Unit for Norochcholai Coal Power Plant

A Special Administrative Unit is to be established by the Power and Renewable Energy Ministry to look into the operations of the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai, Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ajith P. Perera said yesterday.

SLN and PNB busts biggest heroin smuggling off Southern coast

The largest ever heroin haul in the sea, 101 kg of heroin was nabbed by the Sri Lanka Navy and the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) in a joint operation carried out in the sea off southern Sri Lanka on Wednesday, the Navy said today.  

VAT rate to remain at 11%: IRD

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) today said that the VAT rate would remain at 11 per cent until further notice.

CID to grill GL tomorrow

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will record a statement from former External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris tomorrow at 10.00 p.m. over his remarks about the discovery of suicide jackets, explosives and some ammunition at a house in Chavakachcheri, Jaffna recently.

Gas explosion rocks Paris apartment building

A huge explosion ripped through a building in the middle of Paris a short while ago.

Parcel of drugs: Two CME employees arrested

Two employees of the Central Mail Exchange (CME) have been arrested in connection with the recent discovery of a parcel of narcotics received from Pakistan, Post Master General Rohana Abeyratne said today.

Live Events ordered to disclose assets

In the case filed by Attorney Nishan Premthiratne claiming damages for serious breach of contract at the recently concluded Enrique Concert the Colombo District Court ordered Live Events Pvt Ltd to declare its assets and the total earnings made from the ticket sales in the “Enrique Iglesias - Sex and Love" concert held in December last year.

BC files case against ex-SLPA chairman

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption filed a case in the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court against former SLPA Chairman Priyath Bandu Wickrama and two other officials of the Ports Authority today on charges of having incurred a loss Rs.65 million by recruiting 319 employees for the SLPA in Galle and Trincomalee.

FSP members and Police clash outside Immigration Dept.

A tense situation prevailed at the Immigration and Emigration Department in Borella a short while ago following heated arguments and a clash between the police and Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) members, who were protesting there.

People should be told the truth about security: MR

While ruling a country it is important to consider the physical, social development of the country in addition to national security.

Missing people in Maldivian jail: Paranagama

Missing Persons Commission Chairman Maxwell Paranagama had stated that four of those who had gone missing had been found while two or three of them were languishing in Maldivian prisons responding to a question raised by media personnel after the hearings ended in Vavuniya.

Arrested six Indians had their kidneys removed: CCD

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) today informed the Colombo High Court that kidneys of six Indians out of eight, who were arrested in connection with the kidney racket, have been removed.

China commends SL’s positive policies towards them

The Chinese Government commended the positive policies of the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) towards China and said they would like to take Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s upcoming visit as an opportunity to elevate long-lasting friendship to a new height.  

Gammanpila, Bandula find luggages missing in Geneva

Joint opposition MPs Udaya Gammanpila and Bandula Gunawardane who flew to Geneva found their luggage missing upon arrival at the airport, it is learnt.

MR should make a statement in Parliament: Ranil

Responding to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who had told him that the government should focus on the country’s security following the recent detection of hidden arms and ammunition, and the comments made by former minister G. L. Peiris, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that Mr. Rajapaksa should make a statement in parliament and Professor Peiris should divulge to the police all of the information he had on the subjec

Sinhala Ravaya wants Minister Amaratunga behind bars

The Sinhala Ravaya yesterday lodged a complaint with the Police Headquarters regarding the removal of the passageway at Mabola in Wattala, and called for the arrest of Tourism Development, Christian Religious Affairs and Lands Minister John Amaratunga.

Lankan in Bangladesh cyber heist claims she was set up

Hagoda Gamage Shalika Perera, the Sri Lankan businesswoman who got a deposit of $20 million in her account last month, claimed that the funds were anticipated but had no idea they were stolen from Bangladesh's Central Bank in one of the largest cyber heists in history.

CEB to buy power from ACE

The Ceylon Electricity Board today said it had decided to connect 100 MW to the national grid from the ACE Power Generation of Embilipitiya, which had been shut down due to the non renewal of tariff revisions.

PM vows to look into concerns of biz sector

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today said he will look into the concerns raised by certain groups in the business circle with regard to non tariff barriers that Sri Lankan exporters face when they enter the Indian market.

I’ve never gone after anyone asking for IGP’s post: Police Chief

Amidst the intensifying competition for the post of IGP, outgoing Police Chief N.K. Illangakoon yesterday said that he had never gone behind others asking for the IGP post.

Joint opp. cries foul over FCID in Geneva

The three joint opposition MPs who went to Geneva have handed over a letter to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Secretary today and complained about the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) among other allegations of injustice caused towards them by the Government.  

India has enough ammunition to stop WI: Sanga

Kumar Sangakkara in an exclusive chat with the NDTV said that Indian cricket skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has enough ammunition in his repertoire to stop Chris Gayle, when India face West Indies in the World T20 semifinal in Mumbai today.

Explosive detection; GL must be quizzed over his statement-Govt

Cabinet spokesman and Minister Gayantha Karunatilaka today said Prof. G.L Peiris must be questioned over the utterances he had made to the media about alleged plans to bring the suicide jacket and explosives detected from a house at Chavakachcheri to Wellawatte.

Court allows FCID to probe Gowers accounts

Colombo Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peiris today allowed the FCID to peruse the bank accounts of the Gowers Corporate (Pvt) Ltd and NR Consultations allegedly headed by MP Namal Rajapaksa.

India flyover collapse kills 10 with 150 feared trapped

At least 10 people were killed in the Indian city of Kolkata on Thursday and 150 were feared trapped when a flyover under construction collapsed onto traffic moving along the street below, police said.

Defence Secretary unsuitable for post: Wimal

National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa today urged the Government to refrain from underestimating the national security, while claiming Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi proved to be unsuitable for the post by the day.

Gunaratnam sentenced to one year in jail

Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) politburo member Kumar Gunaratnam was today sentenced to one year’s simple imprisonment with a fine of Rs.50, 000 imposed by the Kegalle Magistrate Prasanna Alwis.

Namal alleges PM hiring private firm

UPFA MP Namal Rajapaksa recently alleged that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was hiring a private consultant firm based in Hong Kong, to organise his upcoming official visit to China.